RTÜK allows 14 languages and accents in media productions

The prosecutor excused his absense in yesterday’s hearing of the trial regarding Engin Çeber who was killed by torture in custody. The case was postponed ot 12 April. The case launched against Çeber’s friends who were also exposed to torture continues today.

The case against Vatan newspaper journalist Kemal Göktaş on the grounds of his book “The Hrant Dink Muder: Media, Judiciary, State” has started. The prosecutor requested time to review whether the case was opened within the prescription period of four months.

The European Court of Human Rights decided that the punishment of publisher Akdaş by reason of the book “The Eleven Thousand Rods” by Apollinaire was a disregard of freedom of expression. The book is considered as a work belonging to the European literature heritage.

A Diyarbakır Court sentenced Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper owner Ozan Kılınç to 15months imprisonment each for twelve issues of the paper. Additionally, he received a six years three months sentences charged with “committing a crime on behalf of an illegal organization”. An arrest warrant was issued for Kılınç.

Aytekin Secer (L), part of a civil initiative, chats with his guests in his house in Maden village in Artvin province, northern Turkey, February 21, 2010. A civil initiative calling themselves “Brotherhood of the Rivers” is struggling to stop hydro power plant projects in Artvin province which they believe will damage the natural habitat badly. Turkey’s Electricity Market Regulatory Authority has approved 357 hydro power plant projects in the last three years, said Turkey’s Chamber of Electrical Engineer. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

A digger works on the bed stream of the river Papart in Artvin province, northern Turkey, February 21, 2010. A civil initiative calling themselves “Brotherhood of the Rivers” is struggling to stop hydro power plant projects in Artvin province which they believe will damage the natural habitat badly. Turkey’s Electricity Market Regulatory Authority has approved 357 hydro power plant projects in the last three years, said Turkey’s Chamber of Electrical Engineer. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Record of ‘Crimes of Thought’ in 2009

Young man Emrah Gezer was killed because of a Kurdish folk song. Kurdish politicians and artists experience backlashes for using the Kurdish language despite the easing of regulations in the context of the democratic initiative.

Former DTP MP Tuğluk was acquitted of charges of “spreading propaganda for an illegal organization”. At the same time, PKK leader Öcalan’s lawyers Dündar and Aydınkaya received a 10 months prison sentence, which was suspended on probation.